Cache Slot Lock for Multi-Thread File Request

1. In a content delivery system having a content provider and a communication network, wherein the content provider obtains data via the communication network and processes data requests over the communication network, a method for retrieving data from a cache corresponding to a data request, wherein the cache includes at least one cache slot for storing data, the method comprising: obtaining a request for data over the communication network; allocating a cache slot for the requested data if a cache slot has not been previously allocated; locking the allocated cache slot prior to retrieving the requested data over the communication network; unlocking the entire cache upon locking the allocated cache slot; retrieving the requested data over the communication network; storing the requested data in the allotted locked cache slot; releasing the cache slot lock prior to transmitting the requested data; and transmitting the requested data over the communication network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising unlocking the entire cache if a cache slot has previously been allocated.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising marking a previously allocated cache slot for retrieval if data within the previously allocated cache slot is expired.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising marking the previously allocated cache slot as most recently used.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein marking the previously allocated cache slot as most recently used includes: removing the previously allocated cache slot location from a most recently used queue; and entering the previously allocated cache slot location at the beginning of the most recently used queue.

6. In a content delivery system having a content provider and a communication network, wherein the content provider obtains data via the communication network and processes data requests over the communication network, a computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for retrieving data from a cache corresponding to a data request, wherein the cache includes at least one cache slot for storing data, the method comprising: obtaining a request for data over the communication network; allocating a cache slot for the requested data if a cache slot has not been previously allocated; locking the allocated cache slot prior to retrieving the requested data over the communication network; unlocking the entire cache upon locking the allocated cache slot; retrieving the requested data over the communication network; storing the requested data in the allotted locked cache slot; releasing the cache slot lock prior to transmitting the requested data; and transmitting the requested data over the communication network.

7. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 6 further comprising unlocking the entire cache if a cache slot has previously been allocated.

8. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 6 further comprising marking a previously allocated cache slot for retrieval if data within the previously allocated cache slot is expired.

9. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8 further comprising marking the previously allocated cache slot as most recently used.

10. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 9 , wherein marking the previously allocated cache slot as most recently used includes: removing the previously allocated cache slot location from a most recently used queue; and entering the previously allocated cache slot location at the beginning of the most recently used queue.

11. In a content delivery system having a content provider and a communication network, wherein the content provider obtains data via the communication network and processes data requests over the communication network, a computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system for retrieving data from a cache corresponding to a data request, wherein the cache includes at least one cache slot for storing data, the computer system operable to perform: obtaining a request for data over the communication network; allocating a cache slot for the requested data if a cache slot has not been previously allocated; locking the allocated cache slot prior to retrieving the requested data over the communication network; unlocking the entire cache upon locking the allocated cache slot; retrieving the requested data over the communication network; storing the requested data in the allotted locked cache slot; releasing the cache slot lock prior to transmitting the requested data; and transmitting the requested data over the communication network.

12. The computer system as recited in claim 11 further comprising unlocking the entire cache if a cache slot has previously been allocated.

13. The computer system as recited in claim 11 further comprising marking a previously allocated cache slot for retrieval if data within the previously allocated cache slot is expired.

14. The computer system as recited in claim 13 further comprising marking the previously allocated cache slot as most recently used.

15. The computer system as recited in claim 14 , wherein marking the previously allocated cache slot as most recently used includes: removing the previously allocated cache slot location from a most recently used queue; and entering the previously allocated cache slot location at the beginning of the most recently used queue.